The purpose of this chapter is to protect the
public health, safety and general welfare by:
A. Promoting well-maintained and attractive signage within
the Town;
B. Providing for adequate business identification, advertising,
and communication; and
C. Protecting the safety and efficiency of the Town's
transportation network by reducing confusion or distractions to motorists
and enhancing motorists' ability to view pedestrians, obstacles, other
vehicles and official traffic signs, signals, or devices by minimizing
a proliferation of messages for the motorist.
All signs are prohibited in all residential,
agricultural, commercial, and industrial districts except as follows:
A. Signs over show windows or doors of a business establishment
announcing without display or elaboration only the name and occupation
of the proprietor and not to exceed two feet in height and 10 feet
in length.
B. Real estate signs which advertise the sale, rental
or lease of the premises, and political campaign signs when they are
temporarily located. The sign is not to exceed four square feet.
C. Name, occupation and warning signs not to exceed two
square feet located on the premises.
D. Bulletin boards and identification signs for public,
charitable or religious institutions, apartments, planned residential
developments and subdivisions and model homes, in residential districts,
provided they:
(2) Do not exceed 32 square feet in area except model
homes not to exceed 16 square feet in area.
(3) Are located a minimum of 10 feet from the right-of-way.
(4) Conform to the other yard requirements of the basic
district.
(5) Do not exceed in height 10 feet above the crown of
the road.
(6) Meet distance requirements of freestanding business
signs.
(7) Are limited to the number of signs specified for on-premises
business signs.
E. Memorial signs, tablets, names of buildings, or date
of erection when cut into masonry surface or when constructed affixed
flat against a structure shall not exceed four square feet.
F. Official signs (municipal), such as traffic control,
parking restrictions, information and notices.
G. Temporary signs or banners when authorized by the
Board of Appeals.
H. Farm names and identification signs in all agricultural
districts not to exceed 32 square feet.
I. Signs in existence before the adoption of this chapter.
J. Signs provided for in §§
256-3 and
256-5 of this chapter.
K. Temporary signs not to exceed four square feet advertising
yard sales or rummage sales.
Signs shall not resemble, imitate, or approximate
the shape, size, form or color of railroad or traffic signs, signals
or devices. Signs shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness
of railroad or traffic signs, signals, or devices. No sign shall be
erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to
or egress from any door, window, driveway, or fire escape; and no
sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape. No sign shall
be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility.
External illuminated signs shall be lighted by white light only; no
sign shall flash, oscillate, or rotate, except public service time
and temperature signs. External illumination shall be shaded, shielded,
or directed from surrounding properties and vehicular traffic and
shall not illuminate upward beyond the face of the sign.
Business signs shall be allowed at a distance
of one business sign per lot of record; except, where the business
has frontage on multiple roadways, the frontage on each roadway shall
be allowed one business sign.
Appeals to the determination of the Town may
be made in writing directly to the Board of Appeals who shall hear
the appeal within 60 days. Variances may be granted if all of the
following criteria are fulfilled:
A. The circumstance are not of the applicant's making.
B. The applicant's request mitigates unusual site conditions.
C. The applicant's request would not create a detriment
to the neighborhood or reduce property value.
D. The applicant's request is consistent with the spirit
and intent of this chapter.
E. Without a variance, the applicant would experience
a hardship and cannot make any reasonable use of the property.